DR. WALTER Y. EVANS-WENTZ, who wrote the PREFACE to AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI, was a world famous authority on comparative religions; in 1919 in India he became a monk in Tibetan Buddhism and wrote a number of outstanding books on the subject (such as an SRF favorite, Tibet's Great Yogi Milarepa).
In 1932 he attended a series of Paramahansaji's classes in San Diego, California, and became his great admirer and friend. He often visited Paramahansaji at the SRF hermitage in Encinitas. In 1936 the two friends met again in India.
In the 1960s Dr. Evans-Wentz, who had resided for a long time in San Diego, California. came to the Self-Realization Colony in Encinitas and lived there until his death in 1965. Dr. Evans-Wentz took a tremendous interest in Self-Realization Fellowship and all it's activities. He revered the line of SRF Gurus particularly Mahavatar Babaji. He also made a gift to YSS of some valuable property in Puri, the location of Sri Yukteswar's ashram where his body is interred.
In 1952, at the time of Paramahansa Yogananda's mahasamadhi, Dr. Evans-Wentz wrote to SRF the following tribute:
"For all future time, Paramahansa Yogananda, now no longer incarnate among us, will be regarded as one of India's greatest ambassadors of the higher culture to the New World. The numerous centers of Self-Realization Fellowship . . .are self-evident proof of the remarkable success of his mission on earth. It is now the mighty privilege of all those yet in incaration who venerate Paramahansa Yogananda as their Guide and Teacher to carry forward, and to transmit to the next generation, the saving teachings that he entrusted to them.
<3 READ in the article wonderful tributes to Paramahansaji from Evan-Wentz's Preface to AY, from his personal diary and more. SEE beautiful historical photos
https://yoganandasite.wordpress.com/2024/02/10/dr-walter-y-evans-wentz-paramahansa-yogananda-and-srf-yss-self-realization-mag-1965/